Night at the Nerf [Day 0 - EN]

[Dapper Dog]

The Salty Nerf was a crowded place on most days, purposefully dark and smoky and filled with garish cantina music and cheap drinks. Droids need not enter; they don’t serve their kind here. The bottom floor had two bars on opposite walls and plenty of standing room but few tables, the bulk were upstairs with a VIP lounge currently occupied by Vandil, majordomo to Tididol the Hutt.

She opens the lounge to guests who are interested in her business opportunity but serious inquiries only. The only thing known is that Vandil was looking for enterprising specialists for a lucrative operation and it required a modicum of discretion and the exacting use of firepower.

Downstairs Vuxia tends the drinks and she is the kind of person that could blend in when need be but also seems to know a little bit about everything, if you are buying drinks and remember to tip adequately.

As the night drags on the collection of scum and villainy only increased.

[Vandil]

Vandil took a deep drag and then blew out smoke rings as she watched the procession of ne’er do wells, her lekku shifted as she inspected each one visually but silently. Her long gown was designer with a short sleeve dark jacket under which one could see a blaster in a holster. She crossed her legs, the gown with a high slit gave an eyeful of thigh.

She knew how to work an outfit, that much was for sure.

[Dapper Dog]

Vuxia wiped down the counter for the eighth time that night, this time to remove some blood, she hoped. She picked up a tooth and then threw it in the trash and then got back to the business of serving cheap drinks. She knew with Vandil being upstairs the crowd would be larger than usual which might mean more tips but probably just means more times cleaning blood off the counter and floor.

It's a living.

[Daunt]

The cloaked Zabrak that had entered the establishment without fanfare and was now proceeding to the isolated lounge was a semi-known quality; in the sense that some of those in the business would know him also being in it, but not exactly in what capacity. The cloak straining on his large frame, however, didn't speak of incompetence, nor would the scant hearsay. He was in no hurry, but he had entered early, before the space would be too cramped to move without pushing one's way through.

He wasn't picking up a drink yet, expecting some being served later. Such business had a way of being customarily greased with beverage. It was hard to gauge his level of curiosity about the initiative, but it was of relative certainty that his body was ready for whatever could occur.

[Djanik]

For his own part, Djanik came here grudgingly.

Stepping through the doors, he gave the smallest of shudders, as if trying to deflect the wave of concentrated... criminality... that accompanied the place. Scrap wasn't happy that he'd refused to bring her along, but there were some places he wouldn't let her go. No fun holo-viewers of sloop races or dated corellian soap re-runs here.

He slipped through the crowd, pausing by the entrance to the VIP section and nodding briefly to the men standing watch. They'd know he was here. Then he slipped over to the bar and settled in by a corner, where he could see the room. If they had need of his talents, Vuxia would let him know once he got a drink.

Waiting his turn, he didn't demand attention - in this respect, he was a good patron, in spite of his discomfort, visible even after months of work in places like this. It was known how he felt about having to work for the criminals who frequented the place - but it was also known that he did good work, and he never double-crossed an employer. His quaint discomfort was, to some, endearing - it was a form of leverage over him, in and of itself.

[Dapper Dog]

He slipped through the crowd, pausing by the entrance to the VIP section and nodding briefly to the men standing watch. They'd know he was here. Then he slipped over to the bar and settled in by a corner, where he could see the room. If they had need of his talents, Vuxia would let him know once he got a drink.

Vuxia liked Djanik, he seemed less scummy than most and poured his favorite drink and mouthed on the house with a nod. Who says she wasn’t charitable, she was practically a saint, she was.

[Djanik]

Djanik smiled, and set down a tip, all the same. There was always someone on staff who'd have a slow night - his little offering would smooth those over.

His old standby, black coffee with a dash of Correlian whiskey, was a safe choice. Strong flavored, but less potent than many other alternatives, it helped him keep his wits about him.

The bitter taste drew a wry grin. Bitter and dry. Summed him up these days.

Best put a lid on those thoughts - it was too early in the night to start the old war horse act. Casting an eye toward the VIP section, he watched pensively to see just who would be coming out for this little venture.

[Venator Praedae]

Venator enters the bar and looks around. He did not much care for scum that frequent this place but they came with the territory. He scans the room for a bit before heading towards the bar. He was going to ask the barkeep on what is going on when he spots a familiar face.

"Sup pardner. You come down to see wuh dis dance is all abou?" The Mandalorian asks in a drawl.

Of course not ordering anything will be bad form but since this is a potential job he wants to keep his wits about him. "Gimme a blue milk doll."

[Djanik]

Djanik sighed, taking a deep sip of his drink, and then set it down, glancing at the Mandalorian.

Fly one of those wobbly wrecks they call ships to pick them up for one or two hunts and they act like they're your best friend... Still, as far as the underworld went, at least Bounty Hunters had some semblance of a code of conduct. Mandalorians, apart from their love of that armor and distinct lack of subtlety... they weren't so bad.

"You could say that. People start talking about work, substantial work... A man would be foolish not to at least learn more."

[Bowze Coppa]

Sigh

The tall nemoidian entered the Nerf right behind somebody else, hoping the first one in would draw most of the attention. He did not like this call for 'experts' but it was only polite to feign a modicum of interest.

Logic would dictate that any significant score would requier highly talented people for specific tasks. A good planner would likely already had somebody in mind for these...or contacts to find the relevant parties. A wider call was suspisious...either the score was inflated or, if real, the rag tag group that would form would be...expendable. While it was always better safe then sorry, getting a favor from a Hutt was something one would always be wise to consider.

Thus he made his way to the bar first to order a light drink, hoping to observe and evaluate those who would go to the special booth before making another step.

''Hum'' he said, waving timidly to the barkeep ''A Golden Purse...if you can make one...if you please''

[Dapper Dog]

''Hum'' he said, waving timidly to the barkeep ''A Golden Purse...if you can make one...if you please''

"Coming right up sir," she said and then got to work and added, "that's a pretty fancy drink, mister."

[Daunt]

The lounge was finally entered, probably ahead of those who decided to linger by the counter. Right before it, the hood had been cast back and the steel-skinned man delivered a polite nod with his bald, menacingly horned head. The majordomo's outfit received a passing glance, Daunt was not one to stare unless it served a purpose.

"I've got what's been on the grapevine. I might be interested." He glanced around at unfilled lounge, his fiercely green eyes calm like plasma in a smoothly working reactor. "I guess I'll have to wait though. But drinking by the table is potentially better than by the counter."

[Bowze Coppa]

''Yes...hum...'' he rubbed his hands with a bit of nervosity ''...it was common in my home world a few years back''

He finished his reply with a shaky smile and a good tip

[Venator Praedae]

Trying to not attract attention is definitely impossible even with most Mandalorians. Much less for a chatty one. So Venator finds a spot to get comfortable in while they wait to hear about the job.

"Das for sure. Jus hopin dis all ain' a wase of our dime." Venator replies. "Nu'n do skechy be nice."

[Djanik]

The Force save us from regional dialects.

Djanik couldn't help but think, as he struggled to parse the thick accent. It had never been easy, but at least on contract he just had to know where to set down and pick up.

"I doubt it would be a waste of time - whether this is the job or the cover, that's the question."

Not that it really mattered in the end, so long as you got paid and kept your hands clean. For a given value of clean.

Djanik finished his drink and set it down for a refill as he saw the Zabrak enter the VIP lounge.

There's the rest of the muscle...

[Venator Praedae]

"Ya know um?" Venator asks as his helmet glances over the others and up towards the patron before settling back on his drinking companion.

"Ya reckon dey good wid a blasder?"

[Dapper Dog]

''Yes...hum...'' he rubbed his hands with a bit of nervosity ''...it was common in my home world a few years back''

He finished his reply with a shaky smile and a good tip

She just shrugged and let it go and said, "The real action is upstairs, luv."

[Vandil]

"I've got what's been on the grapevine. I might be interested." He glanced around at unfilled lounge, his fiercely green eyes calm like plasma in a smoothly working reactor. "I guess I'll have to wait though. But drinking by the table is potentially better than by the counter."

“Have a seat Daunt,” she said smoothly and added, “relax, the night is young and we already have a second…”

She trailed off watching a muscular gungan approach with a wide swagger.

[Djanik]

"I do not. He seems more the type to use his hands, if anything."

With a faint shrug, Djanik stood.

"There is an easy enough way to find out, however."

Setting a second tip down, he scooped up his drink.

"I suppose we may as well join them and hear it directly."

With that said, he strode over to the VIP section, nodding to the Zabrak in passing, and then slouching into a seat, one hand shoved firmly into one of the deep pockets on his utilitarian coveralls, the other gripping the still hot hard coffee.

[Dapper Dog]

The gungan grinned and crossed his arms and said, “Meesa be hearin’ youusa lokin’ for good help, well yousa can stop the lookin’ meesa willin’ to work. Meesa the best you will get, meesa ain’t cheap, so whatever yousa be offerin’ meesa want double, but meesa do it right.”

He added, “But meesa open to negotiatin’, as long as meesa get biggest cut.”

[Daunt]

Remaining cloaked, Daunt did as bidden, unhurriedly, thoughtfully even, as if the whole energy slumbering within his flesh was best kept for other occasions. He acknowledged the Gungan and the Pantoran with brief nods, having no particular attitude to showcase toward either, even ready to ignore minor transgressions if those occurred.

When the Gungan started bragging and grandstanding, this was precisely the kind of transgression he was willing to ignore. His heavy gloves just closed one over another in a mock massage of knuckles as he leaned back in the suspended chair.

[Vandil]

The gungan grinned and crossed his arms and said, “Meesa be hearin’ youusa lokin’ for good help, well yousa can stop the lookin’ meesa willin’ to work. Meesa the best you will get, meesa ain’t cheap, so whatever yousa be offerin’ meesa want double, but meesa do it right.”

He added, “But meesa open to negotiatin’, as long as meesa get biggest cut.”

Vandil stood and smiled and said, “Now this is a businessman, with a lift pitch and everything. Handsome too… meesa very impressed.”

She sauntered over and said, “You drive a hard bargain but I like a man who knows his worth.”

She paused and danced her fingers along his chest, the Gungan getting an eyeful of her assets and nodded liking the words and view. There was a flash of metal and then a spurt of Gungan blood as the tough grasped at the vibro-knife in his throat.

She looked at him as he collapsed and said, “The job pays 2000 credits total, you split it however you want but no one tells me or Tididol the Hutt the terms. If you don't like it, leave, don’t think you got the bantha stones to do it, leave.”

She took a deep drag and then delicately removed the knife cleaning it on the cooling corpse and slipped it into the hidden place in her gown. She added, “Consider this a job interview, impress me and there will be more work to come.”

[Jurdak Surt]

Jurdak walked into the Salty Nerf with an easy smile that many would know him for. His dress was nothing extravagant or flashy but it was sturdy and functional. A dark pair of pants and a white shirt with a heavy leather jacket over top and nice solid black boots on his feet. Likely what would draw the eye of most would be the rather large blaster he had strapped to his back.

The cathar's amber eyes swept across the room lingering on the towering figure in the VIP area and the mando by the bar, his smile faltered slightly but he recovered it quickly as he moved to the VIP area and nodded to the two already inside. "Daunt, a pleasure as always big guy, break many skulls lately?" He noticed the dead gungan and frowned a little "well I can see there have been some aggressive negotiations already."

He then nodded to their hostess for the evening with a smile exposing sharp teeth "Vandil, you're looking rather ravishing this evening, though I would expect nothing less from you." He said with an appreciative scan of her figure.

[Jenna Karath]

Entering the establishment Jax moved through the meandering folk with a sub-conscious grace of movement. She didn't look like the sort that should be here, but she moved like the sort. Sticking to the periphery of most everyone she could, not wishing to get involved. A specialist, as she was, she'd done this song and dance so many times before but this time was different. Jenna had reasons not to be seen here, and so Jax played it safe.

Finding the doorman, so to speak, she announced herself for Vandil. That the majordomo had wanted to speak with her, and so she was here. Just as once agreed.

Vandil made her display, Jax averted her gaze, a thief with a heart perhaps.

[Daunt]

"If this job involves violence, the right demonstration might be to showcase the aptitude in it. Is this the right place?" He commented, perhaps with the Gungan in mind, after Vandil's little theatrics was over, than bared his dark, conical teeth to Dak ever so slightly in what amounted to a sympathetic grin but could be well interpreted by the unaware as something more menacing. "I think I'm over keeping count, Dak."